Massachusetts’ New Chinese-Made Subway Cars Malfunction for the Fourth Time

A recent investigation into Massachusetts’ New Red and Orange Line cars made by a Chinese rail company found “something acting abnormally” within their truck frames. It was the fourth time since August 2019 that a malfunction was identified in the new cars.

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s new Red and Orange Line cars are assembled in Springfield by the Chinese state-owned company CRRC. The company is under contract to deliver 252 Red Line cars and 152 Orange Line cars to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) over the next few years. The first fleet of six new Orange Line cars went into service in August 2019.

On March 16, all new trains were pulled from service after an Orange Line train derailed at the Wellington Station. About 100 passengers were on board when the accident happened. No injuries were reported.

MBTA Deputy General Manager Jeff Gonneville said in a May 10 board meeting that tests conducted on the new cars determined that as the mileage of the vehicles increases, there is a greater resistance on the truck frames. Investigators found that the trains would grip more as the side bearer pads wear down and create more friction than expected.

Gonneville compared the issue to the brake pads on an automobile, though he emphasized that no braking issue was found on the subway trains.

“As you’re driving your car, and as your pads are wearing over time, the way you’re operating, and the way your brakes feel, and the way your car performs as you’re stopping remain the same. It doesn’t change. Using this same analogy, what would be happening is your car would be gripping harder or stopping faster every time as the pads are wearing, which is not how it is designed to do,” he said.

I recall reading a report about 20 years ago about a company which made defective refrigerators. Turned out one of the execs was on the take and they had a big investigation and show trial.

Then she was taken out and executed by firing squad. My guess is not because she was skimming profits by using shoddy workmanship, but she wasn't properly sharing them with the party higher ups.

My guess is that the still do something like that every once in awhile to placate the consumer who got a fridge full of rotten food as well as factory executives who skim profits in like manner but don't share with the party.

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